Once Upon A Time (1) The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey

Author:Cameron Dokey [Dokey, Cameron]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-04-15T15:00:52+00:00

"As the king commands," Shahrazad said, and she moved to take her husbands hand and stand by his side.

And Shahrayar told his people what had taken place the night before. That Shahrazad had begun to tell him a story of such wondrous deeds, he could not bear to end her life until the tale was over. For as long as her story lasted, so would her life.

Upon hearing this news, the people wept with amazement and joy. For, in showing such mercy, it seemed to them that the king they had so loved had returned to them once more. And they laid this miracle at Shahrazad's door. So they shouted all together, with one great voice, "Long live Queen Shahrazad!"

But even though they lifted their voices as high as the rest, the former queens brothers looked at one another in triumph out of the corners of their eyes. For it seemed to them that Shahrayar had just put a weapon into their hands—one they had never expected to find there.

He had a weakness, and her name was Shahrazad.

C h a p t e r 1 3

S H A H R A Z A D R E S U M E S H E R T A L E

“Now," said Shahrazad that night, "where was I?"

"I know! I know!" Dinarzad cried. "You were telling about the king, and how he was well and truly. . . "

"Dinarzad," Shahrazad interrupted, laying a hand on her younger sisters head, for Dinarzad sat at her feet just as she had the night before. "Remember that this is not your story, but Shahrayar's."

At Shahrazad's words, Dinarzad caught her breath. How could she have forgotten herself so? she wondered. Her relief that her sister had been spared, her delight that Shahrazad's plan seemed to be working had driven every other thought from Dinarzad's mind. It had even made her forget her awe of Shahrayar.

I cannot afford to forget, she thought. Not while he holds Shahrazad's life so tightly in his hands.

She hung her head. “I beg your pardon, my lord."

"I wish you wouldn't," Shahrayar said easily from where he stood near the trunk. Never guessing what was in Dinarzad's thoughts, knowing only that he was secretly delighted that she was as interested in the story as he was. "To tell you the truth, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is so eager."

At his words, Dinarzad's face lit up in a surprised smile. Shahrayar smiled back. This is how it should be, he thought. Comfortable. Like a family. And suddenly his whole body was flooded with so many different sensations that he could make no sense of any of them, and he sat down upon the lid of the trunk.

"My lord!" Dinarzad cried in alarm. "Are you all right?"

"I think so," Shahrayar replied, though the truth was, he was far from certain. When had the room grown so warm? "It's just—perhaps a glass of something cool to drink?"

"Dinarzad," Shahrazad said. "Ring for a servant, and have him bring His Majesty a cup of water from the deepest well.

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